Days Out NI
Monastic Island · Heritage Lough Erne, near Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh

Devenish Island

A tall 12th-century round tower and grey priory ruins on a green island in Lough Erne — the finest of Fermanagh's monastic islands, reached by boat.

3 photos
Seasonal · reached by boatRoughly spring to autumn
Site free · boat fare appliesLanding and ruins are free
Lough ErneNear Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh
Get directions
Half dayHow long
All ages · history loversBest for
OutdoorsOpen island
At the jettyParking
Site freeBoat fare

A superb 12th-century round tower and grey priory ruins standing alone on a green island in the middle of Lough Erne — floated up to over the water. Devenish is the finest of Fermanagh's monastic islands.

  • What you'll see — one of the best-preserved round towers in Ireland (about 25m tall, with a unique carved cornice under its cap), the ruins of St Mary's Augustinian priory, older churches, a fine 15th-century high cross and an atmospheric old graveyard — all with the lough shining around you.
  • You reach it by a seasonal boat. There's no bridge — it's a short crossing over the lough, and the boats only run part of the year. Always check the operator, season and sailing times before you travel, and confirm it's running on the day.
  • Getting there — the boat — the main option is a guided boat trip from the Round 'O' Jetty at Brook Park, Enniskillen (Erne Tours). In high summer a cheaper seasonal foot-passenger ferry has historically run from Trory Point too — confirm which is sailing when you go.
  • Cost — the island and its ruins are free to visit (a State Care historic monument). You pay only the boat fare to get across — expect around £10–£15 an adult on the guided trip, less on the foot ferry; confirm current prices when you book.
  • When — seasonal — boats run roughly spring to autumn, busiest and most frequent in July and August. Public access to the site can also be paused for conservation works, so check ahead.
  • Bring — it's an open, exposed island with few or no facilities, so pack layers, a coat and sturdy shoes for uneven ground, plus water and a snack.
Plan your visit

The catch is the crossing — sort the boat, then the island's yours

Devenish sits out on Lower Lough Erne with no bridge, so the visit hinges on the boat. The most reliable option is a guided boat trip with Erne Tours from the Round 'O' Jetty at Brook Park, Enniskillen (adult around £14–£15, child around £10, family tickets available — confirm on the day), running to a timetable roughly from spring through to September and most often in July and August. In peak summer a separate, cheaper foot-passenger ferry has historically run from Trory Point as well, though the crossing and operator change from year to year — so ring ahead and confirm what's sailing before you set off. Once you land, the island itself is free to wander, and you'll want to allow a good hour or two among the tower and ruins.

Seasonal boat access Reached by boat only Site free · boat fare Open, exposed island Ruins & round tower
Two things to check before you travel:

(1) The boat is seasonal and the operator, jetty and sailing times can change from year to year — always confirm what's running on the day, and that the weather is fine enough for the crossing. (2) Public access to the site itself is occasionally restricted for conservation works — a quick check ahead saves a wasted trip.

Before you set off

What to wear and bring

  • 🥾Sturdy shoesThe ground on the island is grassy and uneven, and you'll climb ladders if the round tower is open — good, grippy footwear over sandals.
  • 🧥A coat and layersLough Erne is beautiful in changing light, but the island is open and exposed — a coat keeps you comfortable in a breeze or a shower.
  • 💧Water and a snackThere are few or no facilities on the island, so bring what you need for a couple of hours out on the water.
  • 📷Your camera or phoneThe tower rising over the ruins, and the whole island floating on the lough, is a photograph you'll be glad you took.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
The island and its monuments are free to visit — Devenish is a State Care historic monument. You pay only the boat fare across: the guided trip is around £14–£15 adult, £10 child, with family tickets, and the seasonal foot ferry (when running) has been cheaper again. Confirm current prices when you book.
Getting there
Reached by boat only. The main option is a guided boat trip with Erne Tours from the Round 'O' Jetty, Brook Park, Enniskillen. In peak summer a separate foot-passenger ferry has historically run from Trory Point, near Enniskillen — the operator and crossing vary year to year, so confirm on the day.
Season & sailings
Boats run roughly spring through to September, most frequently in July and August, and to a timetable — pick your slot when you book. Sailings can depend on numbers and weather, so ring ahead and check it's running before you travel.
How long
Allow a half day for the whole outing, including the crossing. On the island itself, an hour or two is plenty to take in the tower, priory and graveyard.
What you'll see
The 12th-century round tower (about 25m, one of the finest in Ireland, with a rare carved cornice), St Molaise's House and a lower church, St Mary's Augustinian priory (church, tower and small cloister), a 15th-century carved high cross, and the old graveyard.
The round tower
The tower is said to have wooden floors and can be climbed by the public via a series of ladders — but it may be locked or open only at certain times, so check on the day whether you can go up.
Ages & access
Good for all ages and a treat for history lovers, but it's an open island reached by boat with uneven, grassy ground — not suited to prams or wheelchairs, and keep an eye on little ones near the water.
Facilities
Few or none on the island itself — use the toilets and grab any food or drink at the jetty or in Enniskillen before you sail. Bring water and a snack.
Parking
Park at the departure jetty (Round 'O' Jetty at Brook Park, Enniskillen, or Trory Point for the foot ferry). Confirm the jetty for your chosen crossing.
Current notices
Public access to the site can be restricted at times for conservation works, and the boat is seasonal and weather-dependent — a quick call ahead is always worth it.
Questions

Before you go

Is Devenish Island free to visit?
Yes — the island and its ruins are free, as a State Care historic monument. The only cost is the boat fare to get across the lough, which varies by operator, so confirm current prices when you book.
How do you get to the island?
By boat only — there's no bridge. The main option is a guided boat trip with Erne Tours from the Round 'O' Jetty in Enniskillen; in peak summer a cheaper foot-passenger ferry has historically run from Trory Point too. Both are seasonal, so check what's sailing before you travel.
When is it open?
The boats run roughly spring to autumn, busiest in July and August, and to a timetable that can depend on weather and numbers. Public access to the site can also be paused for conservation works, so a quick check ahead is wise.
Can you climb the round tower?
The tower is said to have wooden floors reached by a series of ladders and can sometimes be climbed by the public — but it may be locked or open only at certain times, so ask on the day whether you can go up.
Is it suitable for young children or prams?
It's a lovely outing for all ages, but it's an open island reached by boat with uneven, grassy ground — not suited to prams or wheelchairs, and you'll want to keep little ones close near the water.
Are there toilets and a café on the island?
There are few or no facilities on the island itself, so use the toilets and pick up food or drink at the jetty or in Enniskillen before you sail, and bring water and a snack with you.
Getting there

Devenish sits on Lower Lough Erne, near Enniskillen in Co. Fermanagh, and is reached by boat only. The main departure is the Round 'O' Jetty at Brook Park, Enniskillen BT74 7EU (Erne Tours); the seasonal foot ferry, when running, leaves from Trory Point just north of the town. Confirm your jetty when you book.

Directions on Google Maps See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

EnniskillenTown, castle & lough · nearby Castle CooleGrand mansion · a short drive Florence CourtHouse & grounds · nearby Lough ErneIslands, cruises & shore walks
The story

Fourteen centuries of prayer on an island in the lough

Devenish is said to have been founded in the 6th century by Saint Molaise, who chose this island on Lower Lough Erne for a monastery. Its name is often translated as "Devenish of the Assemblies", and it grew into the most important of the lough's many island monasteries — a place of learning and pilgrimage that drew people across the water for hundreds of years.

It was not always peaceful. The records say the monastery was raided by Vikings in 837 and burned in 1157, yet each time it recovered and carried on. Through the Middle Ages it flourished again, with a parish church on the island and, in time, St Mary's Augustinian priory.

The buildings you can still see today span the 12th to the 15th centuries. The oldest are St Molaise's House — a small, finely built church — and the round tower, both from the 12th century. That tower is the showpiece: rising to around 25 metres, it is counted among the best-preserved in Ireland, and the story goes that it is the only one to carry a carved decorated cornice beneath its cap. Alongside stand a lower medieval church, the priory with its tower and small cloister, and, in the old graveyard, an unusually fine 15th-century carved high cross.

Cared for now as a State Care historic monument, Devenish still has to be reached the old way — by water. Catch the boat, step onto the island, and you'll feel why monks and pilgrims kept coming back to this quiet green place in the middle of the lough. Get out and go and stand under that tower.